the reason for the hope that I have
The more I looked into Catholicism, the more I found the beliefs I professed my whole life were inverted, perverse versions of Catholic ones. The "whys" of my beliefs were never questioned but looking back I see how glaringly obvious the Scriptures illuminate and support the Catholic Church's positions. Today I'll just discuss the big three: baptism, authority, and praying to the saints.
The first, and some say primary, belief of Baptists is the Believer's Baptism, by immersion specifically. This was a point of pride for many arguments I witnessed in its favor through my education. The Didache (70AD) did prefer cold running water but gave permission for both sprinkling and dunking (in a warmed baptistry in starched white robes?) but they are both acceptable according to that early manuscript. But a point I never considered before researching the Catholic Church was its purpose. The catchphrase often spouted is "it's an outward sign of an inward change," merely signifying to people present for the ceremony that you are now "born again." However the key difference in Catholic theology that challanged my ignorance: IS it just a symbol? After consulting with my Bible I found a slew of verses on the subject. Many Scriptures state otherwise, rather, declaring it's when our souls are physically washed clean and when the Holy Spirit to come reside in us. It's the act of true belief and why it's refered to as a rebirth.
Biblical Authority is another Baptist pillar: Bible alone. Ultimate authority for faith and practice from a collection of letters. If any organization- even from now- could never show the full picture of what the organization is. You remember the persecution of Christianity resulted in diaspora, forcing them to move underground and to new cities surrounding the Mediterranean. It goes to follow that not all doctrine was enscribed but rather passed orally with the traveling evangelists and entrusted to the Church believers to remember. This same church is the one that compiled the letters- not all available, but those considered perfect for teaching and in alignment with what Christ's message was- and declared them to be the Holy Bible. So the Church and it's tradition of belief is the one who passed down the beliefs of Christ until a Bible was put together in the fourth century. Those traditions were taught by a multitude of Church Fathers before that time, externally confirming the belief of the Church as we know it today. You can read about them easily-and freely- online. Here's even a link: Apostolic_Tradition_by_Hippolytus.pdf
Practices have changed in worship but the theology is irrefutable. And to think, the 1500's Protestant Reformation decided to edit the Bible? The 7 books removed confirm many of the Catholic practices I was never taught based on the claim of "I don't see that in the Bible."
Through the centuries since, practice and beliefs of Protestants has become so diluted and re-worked it's almost irrecognizable from what it once was.
The Baptist churches, each an autonomous body, joined haphazardly by The Baptist Faith and Message, makes its own decisions, good and poor, as I've witnessed in multiple churches throughout my life. "Pastor Search Committees" can't see all of the history of a pastor-elect or prevent destruction in a spurned ex-pastor's wake. The hierarchy of the Church is needed for this issue, also especially in regards to church discipline which is mostly ignored nowadays. This cornerstone is countered by the Church's having a Pope, defined as a father of all the Christians. As the head of the household he's responsible for us in the eyes of God and should aim to lead the Church as best he can. As a human, he can (and has) failed through the millennia, but as we see in business, there has to be one leader of the company, for humans are wired for hierarchy. With no concrete leader, we fall into chaos, exemplified by the estimated 40,000 different denominations of the Protestant faith.
The final (for today) argument to present to you is praying to the Saints, lovingly referred to as the Communion of the Saints by Catholics. The questions I received about this were, "why would you do that" and "they're dead- they can't hear you." I would like to counter the latter with the question, "do you not believe in eternal life?" Catholics believe that souls who are in Heaven are rooting for you to choose God with every breath you take and since they're all up there chatting and chummy, have easy access to take your requests to God the Father on your behalf. The word "pray" only means "talking to" and not worship (which I learned with great surprise) and as you would as your friends, small group, or great aunt to pray for you here, you can also ask for saints to pray for you there. Worship itself is something completely different and alternatively defined in Catholicism than what I'm used to. Icons, or pictures or drawings of saints are only to remind you that you're not alone and the great cloud of witnesses is there to help should you ask it.
You don't have to take my word for it. Sources are out there already translated for you to read. St. John Chrysostom (c. 392 AD): In Homilies on Second Corinthians 26:2:5, he writes that even emperors "implores the tentmaker and the fisherman [Peter and Paul], though dead, to be his patrons".
Similarly, Origen (c. 233 AD): In his work Prayer 20, he mentions that not only does Christ pray for those who pray sincerely, "but also the angels... as also the souls of the saints who have already fallen asleep".
Scripture references for these topics for your enjoyment. They are not exhaustive lists on these topics.
REGENERATIVE BAPTISM
Jn 3:5, 22 – born of water & Spirit; Apostles begin baptizing
Tit 3:5 – saved us through bath of rebirth & renewal by Holy Spirit
Acts 2:37-38 – repent, be baptized, receive gift of Holy Spirit
Acts 22:16 – get selves baptized and sins washed away
1Cor 6:11 – you were washed, sanctified, justified
Rom 6:4 – baptized into death; live in newness of life
1Pet 3:21 – baptism…now saves you
Heb 10:22 – heart sprinkled, bodies washed in pure water
BIBLE ALONE OR BIBLE PLUS TRADITION
1Cor 11:2 – hold fast to traditions I handed on to you
2Thess 2:15 – hold fast to traditions, whether oral or by letter
2Thess 3:6 – shun those acting not according to tradition
Jn 21:25 – not everything Jesus said recorded in Scripture
Acts 20:35 – Paul records a saying of Jesus not found in Gospels
2Tim 2:2 – what you heard entrust to faithful men
2Pet 1:20 – no prophecy is a matter of private interpretation
AUTHORITATIVE CHURCH
Mt 28:18-20 – Jesus delegates all power to Apostles
Jn 20:23 – power to forgive sin
1Cor 11:23-24 – power to offer sacrifice (Eucharist)
Lk 10:16 – power to speak with Christ’s voice
Mt 18:18 – power to legislate
Mt 18:17 – power to discipline
INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS
Mk 12:26–27 – "God of the Living" argument
Heb 12:1 – "Cloud of Witnesses"
Rev 5:8 & 8:3-4 – "Golden Bowls" of prayer
Mk 9:4– Transfiguration
1 Tim 2:1–7 – "One Mediator" Context
Be sure to send a message if you'd like to discuss any of this.
Until next time,
-my heart is not afraid
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